ABSTRACT
When speaking to somebody you do not know, or whom you know in a formal context only, it is customary to use usted (plural: ustedes) as the term meaning ‘you’; these forms are often abbreviated to Vd. and Vds. in writing. The use of usted and ustedes means, in turn, that third person forms of the verb and related pronouns are required (e.g. ¿Tiene Vd. tiempo para…? or ¿Les interesa a ustedes …?).
